Illmatic was a critically acclaimed bestseller and is widely considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. He married R&B singer Kelis in 2005, they have one son together, and she filed for divorce on the 29th of April 2009. Nas was also a part of hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album.
In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more commercial direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Nas' increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of "selling out". Nevertheless, the LP Stillmatic is often credited for restoring Nas' credibility among fans. Since the success of Stillmatic, Nas continues to maintain a high profile within the hip hop community, and has pursued a decidedly progressive and personal aesthetic. While Nas' current artistic direction differs greatly from his most successful work, it has ensured that he remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers.
1973–1992: Childhood and early career
Nas was born in Brooklyn, New York, as the elder of Olu Dara and Fannie Ann Jones's two children; his brother Jabari (nicknamed "Jungle" because he was born in the Congo) is the younger of the two. The family lived for a time in Brooklyn, before moving to Queensbridge, the largest public housing project in the United States. Olu Dara left the household in 1986, when Nas was 13, and Ann Jones raised her two boys on her own. Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began selling drugs on the streets of New York. He educated himself, reading about African culture and civilization, the Qur'an, the Bible and the Five Percent Nation. He also studied the origin of hip hop music, taping records that played on his local radio station. As a child, Nas had wanted to be an instrumentalist (at the age of three, Nas played his father's trumpet on the step of their Brooklyn home) and also a comic book artist. Shortly after his parents separated, Nas began to write short stories as he immersed himself deeper into hip-hop culture.
By his preteen years, he had settled on pursuing a career as a rapper, and as a teenager enlisted his best friend and upstairs neighbor Willie "Ill Will" Graham as his DJ. Nas first went by the nickname Kid Wave before adopting his more commonly known alias of Nasty Nas. Nas and Graham soon met hip-hop producer and Flushing Queens resident Large Professor, who introduced Nas to his group, Main Source. In 1991, Nas made his on-record debut with a verse on "Live at the BBQ", from Main Source's LP Breaking Atoms. Despite the substantial buzz for Nas in the underground scene, the rapper was rejected by major labels and was not signed to a recording deal. Nas and Graham continued to work together, but their partnership was cut short when Graham was shot and killed by a gunman in Queensbridge on May 23, 1992.
1992–1995: The recording and release of Illmatic
In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records the same year. Nas made his solo debut on the single "Halftime" from Serch's soundtrack for the film Zebrahead. The single increased the buzz surrounding Nas and when MC Serch’s solo album is released later in the year, Nas’ standout appearance on "Back To The Grill" only intensified interest in his upcoming album, amid immense anticipation. Hailed as the second coming of Rakim, his rhyming skills attracted a significant amount of attention within the hip-hop community. However, many were concerned that Columbia, being a major label, would try to dilute his New York based style.
In 1994, Nas' debut album, Illmatic was finally released. Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the premier rap albums ever created, Illmatic featured lyrics that portrayed stunning visual imagery and production courtesy of several producers . The album featured production from Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) and DJ Premier, as well as guest appearances from Nas' friend AZ and his father Olu Dara on the song "Life's a Bitch", Illmatic was immediately hailed as a masterpiece by critics, and is still highly regarded as one of the definitive hip-hop albums of all time. Notable songs on the album included "NY State of Mind" (produced by Premier), "The World Is Yours" (produced by Pete Rock), "One Love" (produced by Q-Tip) and "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (produced by Large Professor and featuring a sample of "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson). However, due in part to extensive bootlegging, the record sales fell below expectations.
Following Illmatic, Nas appeared on AZ's Doe Or Die album, and collaborated with his Queensbridge-associates, Mobb Deep, on their album, The Infamous. One notable achievement during this period was Nas' verse on "Verbal Intercourse" on Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. After this appearance, Nas received a Source Quotable as he had the distinction of being the only non-Wu-Tang Clan member to be featured on one of the group's solo albums.
1996–1998: From It Was Written to The Firm
Columbia began to press Nas to work towards more commercial topics like the rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who had become successful by releasing street singles that still retained pop-friendly appeal. Nas traded manager MC Serch for Steve Stoute, and began preparation for his second LP, It Was Written, consciously working towards a crossover-oriented sound. It Was Written, chiefly produced by Poke and Tone of Trackmasters Entertainment, was released during the summer of 1996. Two singles, "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (a remix features R. Kelly) were instant hits. These songs were promoted by big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams, making Nas a common name among mainstream hip-hop. Other notable tracks on the album included "The Message" and "I Gave You Power," which tells a story from the perspective of a gun. It Was Written also featured the debut of The Firm, a supergroup consisting of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. The album also introduced Nas's Mafioso-inspired character "Nas Escobar", who lived more of a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle. On the other hand, Illmatic, which, while having numerous references to Tony Montana and the theatrical hit featuring Al Pacino, was more about Nas' life as a teenager in the projects, hustling and smoking marijuana.
The Firm signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, and began working on their debut album. Halfway through the production of the album, Cormega was fired from the group by Steve Stoute, who had unsuccessfully attempted to force Cormega to sign a deal with his management company. Cormega therefore became one of Nas' most vocal opponents, releasing a number of underground hip-hop singles dissing Nas, Stoute, and Nature, who was Cormega's replacement in The Firm. The Firm's The Album was finally released in 1997 to mixed reviews and lackluster sales and the members of the supergroup went their separate ways.
At about this time, Nas became a spokesperson for the Willie Esco urban clothing line, but had no other connection with the clothing line. He stopped promoting Willie Esco in 2000, dissatisfied with the company's operations. During the same period, Nas co-wrote and starred in Hype Williams' 1998 feature film Belly, which also featured DMX, Taral Hicks, and T-Boz of TLC among its cast.
1998–2000: I Am... to Nastradamus
In 1998, Nas began work on a double album to be entitled I Am...The Autobiography, which he intended as the middle ground between the extremes of Illmatic and It Was Written. The album was completed in early 1999, and a music video was shot for its lead single, Nas Is Like, produced by DJ Premier and featuring vocal samples from "It Ain't Hard to Tell". However, much of the LP was leaked in MP3 format onto the Internet, and Nas and Stoute quickly recorded enough substitute material to constitute a single-disc release.
The second single for I Am was "Hate Me Now," featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs (now "Diddy"), was used as an example by Nas' critics for moving towards commercial themes. Hype Williams shot an allegorical video for the single, which featured Nas and Puffy being crucified in a manner similar to Jesus; After the video was completed, Combs, a Catholic, requested his crucifixion scene be edited out of the video. However, the unedited copy of the "Hate Me Now" video made its way to MTV, and was premiered on April 15, 1999 on TRL. A furious Combs and his bodyguards allegedly made their way into Steve Stoute's office and assaulted him, at one point apparently hitting Stoute over the head with a champagne bottle. Stoute pressed charges, but he and Combs settled out-of-court that June.
Columbia had scheduled to release the pirated material from I Am under the title Nastradamus during the latter half of 1999, but, at the last minute, decided Nas should record an entirely new album for release. Nastradamus was therefore rushed to meet a November release date. Though critics were not kind to the album, it did result in a minor hit, the Timbaland-produced "You Owe Me," featuring R&B singer Ginuwine. The only pirated track from I Am... to make it onto Nastradamus was "Project Windows," featuring Ronald Isley. A number of the other bootlegged tracks later made their way onto The Lost Tapes, a collection of underground Nas songs that was released by Columbia in September 2002. The collection saw decent sales and received glowing reviews.
2000–2001: The Nas vs. Jay-Z rivalry and Stillmatic
The highly publicized rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z began as a rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z's protege, Memphis Bleek. On his debut album Coming of Age, Bleek made a song entitled "Memphis Bleek Is", which was similar in concept to Nas' single "Nas is Like". On the same album, Bleek recorded "What You Think Of That" featuring Bleek's mentor Jay-Z, which contains the refrain, "I'ma ball 'til I fall/what you think of that?". In retaliation, "Nastradamus", the title track from Nas' second 1999 album, featured a reference to "What You Think Of That". The lyrics state, "You wanna ball till you fall, I can help you with that/You want beef? I could let a slug melt in your hat." Memphis Bleek perceived the reference on "Nastradamus" as a diss, and therefore dissed Nas on the lead single for his The Understanding LP, My Mind Right".
QB's Finest was a compilation album that featured Nas and a number of other rappers from Queensbridge, including Mobb Deep, Nature, Littles, The Bravehearts (which included Nas' younger brother Jungle among its members), and Cormega, who had briefly reconciled with Nas. The album also featured guest appearances from Queensbridge hip-hop legends Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, and Marley Marl. Shan and Marley Marl both appeared on the lead single "Da Bridge 2001", which was based on Shan & Marl's 1986 recording "The Bridge". "Da Bridge 2001" also featured a response from Nas to Memphis Bleek, in which Nas called out most of the Roc-A-Fella Records roster, including Bleek, Damon Dash, Beanie Sigel, and Jay-Z.
Jay-Z responded to Nas' songs with an onstage swipe during the 2001 Hot 97 Summer Jam concert in New York City, when he premiered his song "Takeover." Initially, the song was to only be a Mobb Deep diss, only including one line about Nas near the end. Nevertheless, Nas recorded the "Stillmatic Freestyle," an underground single which sampled Rakim and Eric B.'s "Paid in Full" beat, and attacked Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella label. On his 2001 album, The Blueprint, Jay-Z rewrote "Takeover," dedicating half of the song to dissing Nas, claiming that he had a "...one hot album every ten year average" record (referring to Illmatic) that his flow was weak, and that he had fabricated his past as a hustler.
Nas responded with "Ether", the track begins with gunshots and a repeated, slowed-down sample of Tupac rapping "Fuck Jay-Z." (taken from Tupac's "Fuck Friends") In "Ether," Nas accuses Jay-Z of stealing ("biting") lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. and brown-nosing Nas and other rappers for fame. Ether was included on Nas' fifth studio album, Stillmatic, released in December 2001. Stillmatic managed to be not only a critically-acclaimed comeback album, but a commercial success as well, albeit not on the level of It Was Written and I Am...; the album debutted at #7 on the Billboard album charts and featured the singles "Got Ur Self A..." and "One Mic." In terms of commercial success, Jay's The Blueprint was certified double-platinum, while Stillmatic went platinum.
Jay-Z responded to "Ether" with a freestyle entitled "Supa Ugly." going into detail about how he had sex with Carmen Bryan, the mother of Nas' daughter Destiny. Nas dismissed the track by claiming that he was no longer with Bryan during the time the affair took place. In a recent interview, however, New York radio station Hot 97 settled the battle taking votes comparing "Ether" and "Supa Ugly," and Nas won with 58% while Jay-Z got 42% of the votes. By 2005, the two rappers had eventually ended their feud without violence or animosity. During Jay-Z's I Declare War - Power House concert, Jay-Z announced to the crowd, "It's bigger than 'I Declare War'. Let's go, Esco!" Nas then joined Jay-Z onstage, and the two then performed "Dead Presidents" together, which Jay-Z had sampled from Nas' song "The World is Yours."
2002–Present: From God's Son to Street's Disciple and beyond
In December 2002, Nas released the God's Son album. and its lead single, "Made You Look". The album debuted at #18 on the Billboard charts despite widespread internet bootlegging. Time Magazine named his album best hip-hop album of the year. Vibe Magazine gave it 4 stars and The Source gave it 4 mics. The second single, the inspirational "I Can", which reworked elements from Beethoven's "Fur Elise", became Nas' biggest hit to date during the spring and summer of 2003, garnering substantial radio airplay on urban, rhythmic, and top 40 radio stations, as well as on the MTV and VH1 music video networks. God's Son also includes several songs dedicated to memory of Nas' mother, who died of cancer in 2002. In 2003, Nas was featured on the Korn song "Play Me", from KoЯn's Take a Look in the Mirror LP.
Nas released his seventh studio album, the critically acclaimed double-disc Street's Disciple, on November 30, 2004. The album's first singles were "Thief's Theme" and "Bridging the Gap", which features his father Olu Dara on vocals. The album also includes "These are Our Heroes", which accuses prominent sports stars and actors such as Kobe Bryant, Lenny Henry, Tiger Woods, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. of neglecting their heritage and background in favour of white values. The videos for "Bridging the Gap" and "Just A Moment" received moderate airplay on MTV and BET. Although the album went platinum, its commercial profile was relatively low compared to the rapper's previous releases.
Nas was featured on Kanye West's album Late Registration on a song titled "We Major". West said the song was Jay-Z's favorite on the album, but West was unable to get Jay-Z to record a vocal for the final mix of the song. He also appeared on Damian Marley's song "Road to Zion" (which also featured newcomer The Game in the video, widening Nas' still growing universally appreciated raps) and several other songs such as "Death Anniversary" and "It Wasn't You" (featuring Lauryn Hill). In addition, Nas was most recently married to the R&B singer Kelis, who is mostly known for her work internationally, but nonetheless released great hits in the U.S. The couple wed on Jan. 8, 2005 in Atlanta, GA, after a two-year engagement.
During this time, Nas announced that his next album would be entirely self-produced and feature no other rappers, and would be titled Nasir, and later that the project would feature other producers after all and would be called Nasdaq: Dow Jones. Neither of these albums ever materialized.
At a free concert in Central Park, New York, Nas made a statement regarding the quality of 50 Cent's music. "this is the real shit, not that 50 Cent shit!" In response, 50 Cent included a stab at Nas by speaking negatively of his wife Kelis on his single "Piggy Bank," implying that Kelis was promiscuous and calling Nas a "sucker for love." Nas was quoted as saying that he feels no obligation to retaliate, remarking "[50 has] got a good five to six more albums before I can really respond to him." Nas eventually decided to retaliate, and in July 2005 released "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)", a song which taunts 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew, stating that 50 was "a sucka for death if I'm a sucka for love." However, despite all of this, Nas still claims to "have a lot of love towards 50," claiming 50 didn't understand his moves when they both were together at Columbia Records.
In January 2006, Nas signed a label deal with Jay-Z's Def Jam, further emphasizing the Jay-Z/Nas truce and raising expectations for a collaboration even higher. His album due in fall of 2006 will come out in a joint deal with this imprint and Columbia Records. He recently announced to MTV News that his album is to be named, "Hip Hop is Dead...the N," the N being a play on the word the "end." The title is supposed to reflect what some would term the current low quality of rap music. The highly anticipated album is due out in December 19th, 2006.
Musical style and Technique
Nas has long been famed for his creativity and storytelling prowess, which has earned him acclaim from both the hip-hop community and critics. In his early stages, from his first appearance on the Main Source's Breaking Atoms and throughout the recording of Illmatic, he was perhaps best known for his street-oriented topics, complex lyrical schemes (which often incorporated multi-syllabic internal rhymes), and witty phrasing and imagery. As he progressed and matured, Nas began to branch out into different subjects and developed a richer voice and slower rapping technique.
Following Illmatic's release, Nas developed a penchant for hyper-visual storytelling and topical creativity. For instance, "Undying Love" (featured on I Am...) is a tale of his wife's betrayal told in first person, "Rewind" (featured on Stillmatic) is a narrative in which a story is recited backwards, while on "I Gave You Power" (featured on It Was Written), Nas assumes the role of a gun who recounts brutal tales of murder and violence. Over the years Nas' style has changed significantly. In contrast to his previous work, Nas’ most recent material is distinctively socially aware and often politically inflammatory. Songs such as "I Can" (featured on God's Son) convey moral messages of black youth empowerment, while "These Are Our Heroes (Coon Picnic)" accuses several African-American celebrities of being Uncle Toms. Furthermore, controversial songs such as "My Country" and "A Message to the Feds (Fuck The Police II)" (which are featured on Stillmatic and Street's Disciple, respectively) question the conduct of the American government. Nas' views in his lyrics throughout his career have made references to Islam and the Five Percent Nation..
We Still Major
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts
I take a sip of that yak, I want to fuck
I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck
But really what's amazing is how I keep blazing
Towel under the door smoke until the days end
Puff, puff then pass, don't fuck up rotation
Hypnotic for Henny, now nigga that's your chaser
Best things are green now pimp and get your paper
High off the ground instead of skyscraper
Too low thinkin' we local, come on homie, we major
We major (come on, homie, we major)
Feeling better than some head on a Sunday afternoon
Better than a chick that say yes to soon
Until you have a daughter, that's what I call karma
And you pray to god she don't grow breasts too soon.
Projects to' up, gang signs is thrown up
Niggas hats broke off that's how we grow up
Why else you think shorty's write rhymes just to blow up?
Get they first car and then IRS show up
He ain't never had shit but he had that nine
Nigga come through flickin' and he had that shine
Put two and two together in a little bad weather
Gon' be a whole family on that funeral line
Ask the reverend was the strip club cool if my tips help send a pretty girl through school
That's all I want like wino's want they good whiskey
I ain't in the Klan, but I brought my hood with me
You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up and watch how we roll up and
I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts
I take a sip of that yak, I want to fuck
I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck
But really what's amazing is how I keep blazing
Towel under the door smoke until the days end
Puff, puff then pass, don't fuck up rotation
Hypnotic for Henny, now nigga that's your chaser
Turn nothing to something now pimpin' that's a savior
Best things are green now pimp and get your paper
High off the ground instead of skyscraper
Too low thinkin' we local, come on homie, we major
I heard the beat and I ain't know what to write
First line, should it be about the hos or the ice?
Four-four's or black Christ? Both flows would be nice
Rap about big paper or the black man's plight
At the studio console asked my man to the right
What this verse sound like, should I freestyle or write?
He said, Nas, what the fans want is Illmatic, Stillmatic
Picked up the pad and pencil and jotted what I feel
Been like 12 years since a nigga first signed
Now I'm a free agent
And I'm thinking it's time
To build my very own Motown
Cause rappers be deprived of executive 9 to 5s
And it hurts to see these companies be stealing the life
And I love to give my blood sweat and tears to the mic
So y'all copped the LPs and y'all fiends got dealt
I'm Jesse Jackson on the balcony where King got killed
I survived the livest niggas around
Lasting longer than more than half of you clowns
Look, I used to cook before I had the game took
Either way my change came like Sam Cooke
Feeling better than I ever felt before today
Like better late than never is orientation
Still we can make it better throwing all your cares away
You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up and watch how we roll up and
I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts
I take a sip of that yak, I want to fuck
I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck
But really what's amazing is how I keep blazing
Towel under the door smoke until the days end
Puff, puff then pass, don't fuck up rotation
Hypnotic for Henny, now nigga that's your chaser
Turn nothing to something now pimpin' that's a savior
Best things are green now pimp and get your paper
High off the ground instead of skyscraper
Too low thinkin' we local, come on homie, we major
The lyrics to "We Still Major" by Nas featuring Kanye West delve into themes of success, resilience, and the struggles faced by artists in the music industry. Nas and Kanye both assert their dominance and emphasize their perseverance despite the challenges they have encountered along their respective journeys.
The opening lines convey a sense of authority and confidence, with Nas declaring that others should watch and learn from how they navigate through life. He acknowledges his wild and unpredictable nature, unable to control his desires and tendencies. He references indulging in alcohol and marijuana, highlighting their role in his creative process.
Nas further discusses the amazing aspect of his continuous success, how he keeps blazing through life despite obstacles. He mentions smoking until the end of the day, indicating that he uses it as a form of escape or relaxation. The lyrics also suggest the importance of maintaining a harmonious smoking session, as he reminds others not to disrupt the rotation.
The second verse shifts focus to the challenges faced by individuals growing up in impoverished neighborhoods. Nas mentions the destruction of housing projects and the prevalence of gang activity. He brings attention to the systemic issues that lead young individuals to turn to music as an avenue for success, highlighting that they aspire to escape their circumstances.
Nas also addresses the stereotypes associated with rappers, highlighting the misconception that they only rap to become famous or accumulate wealth. He implies that many of these artists endure hardships and use their success to uplift their communities. He mentions how his tips in the strip club can contribute to a young woman's education, illustrating his desire to make a positive impact.
The final verse sees Nas reflecting on his career and the expectations placed upon him as an iconic artist. He debates whether he should write about materialistic pursuits or delve into the social issues faced by the Black community. He concludes that his fans want him to return to the style and essence of his earlier albums, such as "Illmatic" and "Stillmatic."
The lyrics also touch on the exploitative nature of the music industry and the desire to establish independent success. Nas expresses frustration with corporations profiting off artists while they struggle to maintain creative control. He emphasizes his dedication to his craft and the sacrifices he has made.
In summary, "We Still Major" is a song that delves into the perseverance, struggles, and aspirations of Nas and Kanye West in the music industry. It addresses their success, the challenges faced by artists in impoverished neighborhoods, and the desire to maintain creative control in an exploitative industry.
Line by Line Meaning
You motherfuckers better do your job and roll up and watch how we roll up and
You individuals should fulfill your responsibilities and observe how we succeed and flourish
I can't control it, can't hold it, it's so nuts
I am unable to contain or restrain my passion and enthusiasm, it's overwhelmingly intense
I take a sip of that yak, I want to fuck
I indulge in a drink of strong alcohol, it increases my desire for sexual activity
I take a hit of that chronic, it got me stuck
I consume marijuana and it leaves me in a state of intoxication and immobilization
But really what's amazing is how I keep blazing
However, what's truly astonishing is my consistent ability to excel and succeed
Towel under the door smoke until the days end
I smoke marijuana while taking precautions to prevent the odor from spreading, continuing until the day is over
Puff, puff then pass, don't fuck up rotation
Take two inhalations of marijuana smoke and then pass it to the next person, ensuring the rotation is not disrupted
Hypnotic for Henny, now nigga that's your chaser
Using hypnotic mixed with Hennessy as a chaser, that becomes your accompanying drink
Turn nothing to something now pimpin' that's a savior
Transforming a disadvantaged situation into something valuable, that's the salvation of being a successful pimp
Best things are green now pimp and get your paper
The most favorable opportunities involve money, so become a pimp and earn your wealth
High off the ground instead of skyscraper
Reaching a profound state of intoxication rather than striving for grand achievements
Too low thinkin' we local, come on homie, we major
If your aspirations are too limited, believing we are only local talents, come on friend, we are much more important
Feeling better than some head on a Sunday afternoon
Experiencing a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction greater than receiving oral sex on a leisurely Sunday afternoon
Better than a chick that say yes to soon
Superior to a woman who agrees too quickly without considering the consequences
Until you have a daughter, that's what I call karma
It's only when you have a daughter that you truly understand the consequences of your actions, that's what I consider karma
And you pray to god she don't grow breasts too soon.
And you fervently hope that she doesn't mature too quickly and face adult challenges before her time
Projects to' up, gang signs is thrown up
The housing projects are in disarray, with gang members displaying their allegiance through hand signs
Niggas hats broke off that's how we grow up
People's hats are worn in a torn or damaged state, symbolizing our upbringing in a rough environment
Why else you think shorty's write rhymes just to blow up?
Why do you think young individuals write lyrics with the goal of becoming successful and famous?
Get they first car and then IRS show up
They acquire their first automobile and suddenly the Internal Revenue Service demands payment
He ain't never had shit but he had that nine
He has experienced a life of poverty, but possesses a firearm for protection
Nigga come through flickin' and he had that shine
He enters a place with swagger and confidence while displaying his wealth and success
Put two and two together in a little bad weather
Recognize the correlation in unfavorable circumstances
Gon' be a whole family on that funeral line
There will be numerous family members and loved ones attending the funeral procession
Ask the reverend was the strip club cool if my tips help send a pretty girl through school
Inquire with the reverend if it is acceptable to support a strip club, as the tips I provide contribute to a woman's education
That's all I want like wino's want they good whiskey
That's the only desire I have, similar to how an alcoholic craves their preferred brand of whiskey
I ain't in the Klan, but I brought my hood with me
I am not affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, but I carry the essence and culture of my neighborhood wherever I go
I heard the beat and I ain't know what to write
When I listened to the instrumental, I was uncertain about the content I should include in my lyrics
First line, should it be about the hos or the ice?
Should the opening line focus on women or expensive jewelry?
Four-four's or black Christ? Both flows would be nice
Should I discuss firearms or societal issues? Both lyrical approaches would be impressive
Rap about big paper or the black man's plight
Should I rap about immense wealth or address the struggles faced by black individuals?
At the studio console asked my man to the right
Sitting at the recording studio mixing console, I consulted my friend sitting beside me
What this verse sound like, should I freestyle or write?
What is the overall impression of this verse? Should I improvise or carefully craft the lyrics?
He said, Nas, what the fans want is Illmatic, Stillmatic
He advised me, Nas, the audience desires music similar to albums Illmatic and Stillmatic
Picked up the pad and pencil and jotted what I feel
I grabbed a notepad and pen and wrote down my genuine thoughts and emotions
Been like 12 years since a nigga first signed
It has been approximately 12 years since I first signed a record deal
Now I'm a free agent
Now, I am no longer signed to any particular record label
And I'm thinking it's time
And I believe it is the right moment
To build my very own Motown
To establish my own music empire similar to Motown Records
Cause rappers be deprived of executive 9 to 5s
Because rappers are often excluded from holding high-level corporate positions
And it hurts to see these companies be stealing the life
And it is painful to witness corporations taking advantage of the creativity and livelihood of artists
And I love to give my blood sweat and tears to the mic
And I am passionate about dedicating my effort and emotions to the microphone while performing
So y'all copped the LPs and y'all fiends got dealt
So all of you purchased my albums and received the satisfaction you desired
I'm Jesse Jackson on the balcony where King got killed
I am comparable to Jesse Jackson standing on the balcony where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated
I survived the livest niggas around
I managed to survive among the most dangerous individuals in the area
Lasting longer than more than half of you clowns
Enduring for a longer period of time than a majority of the foolish and incompetent individuals
Look, I used to cook before I had the game took
Listen, I used to sell drugs before I became successful in the industry
Either way my change came like Sam Cooke
Regardless, my transformation occurred just like the evolution of Sam Cooke's music
Feeling better than I ever felt before today
Experiencing a level of contentment and happiness that surpasses any previous moment
Like better late than never is orientation
Similar to the belief that it is preferable to arrive later than to never arrive at all
Still we can make it better throwing all your cares away
Nevertheless, we have the ability to improve our circumstances by disregarding all worries
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Warryn Campbell, Nasir Jones, Maureen Elizabeth Reid, Russell W Simmons, Lawrence Smith, W Trotter, Kanye Omari West, Anthony Williams, Antony Williams, Dontae Winslow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KobaniacMinded
Nas the coolest og ever doesn't try to act young or rap like he's young effortlessly cool
@deenakbar2478
My favorite rapper of them all. He just know he grew and matured lyrically.. still got it..
@mikejones9906
I knew Nas sold his soul when I seen him promoting Hennessy on a commercial.
@sayeyadolo109
Goat Shit
@northbinolu7971
@@mikejones9906 why is your ass everywhere
@mikejones9906
@@northbinolu7971 you mad at the truth
@tdog4176
This song just needs to be longer.
@GOILL
I miss the 3 verse songs..
@lightsoutmedia7370
Right this my favorite song on the album
@obinnainogbo
These days songs are under 3 minutes